Apparatus for mixing liquids with gases



April 11 1967 l .LGUGGENBERGER ETAL 3,313,093

APPARATUS FOR MIXING LIQUIDS WITH GASES April 11, 1957 J. GUGGENBERGER ETAL 3,313,093

APPARATUS FOR MIXING LIQUIDS WITH GASES Filed June 30, 1964 2y Sheets-Sheet .2

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Jnven/ars: JOHANN GUGGENBERGER LorrE REgvKAr/P KARL-HEINZ F/NGf/P United States Patent Office 3,3393 Patented Apr. l1, 1967 3,313,093 APPARATUS FOR MIXING LIQUIDS WITH GASES Johann Guggenberger, Munich, Lotte Renkamp, Dortmund-Braekel, Karl-Heinz Finger, Dortmund-Gespel, and Reinhold Mnilk, Dortmund-Wickede, Germany, assignors to Holstein & Kappert Maschinenfabrik Phonix,

G.m.b.H., Dortmund, Germany Filed June 30, 1964, Ser. No. 379,166 9 Claims. (Cl. 55-170) The present invention relates to an apparatus for impregnating liquids with gases. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus for thoroughly impregnating and/ or saturating a liquid or a mixture of two or more liquids with carbon dioxide gas or the like.

It is an important object of the invention to provide a simple apparatus for impregnating water, a mixture of water with fruit juices, fruit juices or other liquid substances with carbon dioxide gas or with another gaseous substance in such a way that the ultimate product contains a constant quantity of absorbed gas.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very simple, compact and comparatively inexpensive apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which may be readily and rapidly converted for treatment of different liquids and/ or gases, which may be converted from treatment of a single liquid to treatment of two or more liquids, wherein the quantity of gases to be absorbed by the liquids may be varied in a very simple and time-saving manner, and which may be operated by persons having little technical skill.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement for blending two or more liquid fractions in a continuous operation and to thereupon impregnate the resulting mixture vw'th a gaseous substance.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above outlined characteristics wherein surplus gas which cannot be absorbed by `liquid may be reused for admixture to a fresh supply of liquid.

With the above objects in view, one feature of the invention resides in the provision of an apparatus for impregnating a liquid with a gas, particularly with carbon dioxide gas. The apparatus comprises the steps of introducing the gas, in compressed condition, and a stream of liquid into a tank or a similar mixing vessel so as to effect partial absorption of gas, conveying the liquid from the vessel through the passage of a venturi nozzle and introducing the gas from the vessel into the throat portion of the nozzle so that the liquid is impregnated with gas and the surplus of gas forms bubbles which are dispersed in the thus impregnated liquid, conveying the resulting mixture of impregnated liquid and gas bubbles along an elongated path (for example, through one or more tanks or coils) to extend the duration of contact between the gas bubbles and the impregnated liquid and to thereby achieve additional absorption of gas by the liquid if necessary, separating surplus gas from the irnpregnated liquid, and returning the thus separated surplus gas to the mixing vessel.

If necessary, the separation may be accompanied by admission of additional compressed gas into the separating device or, alternatively, compressed gas may be admitted to the mixing vessel in addition to such gas which returns from the separating station.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic `of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an apparatus which is constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, certain parts of the apparatus being shown in vertical section; and

FIG. 2 is a similar diagrammatic view of a modified apparatus with a single gas supply conduit.

FIG. 3 is a transverse view of the nozzle illustrating the annular channel.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an apparatus which embodies one form of the present invention and which is utilized for impregnating a liquid with a gas. The liquid which is to absorb the gas is a mixture of two liquid fractions, for example, water and syrup. These two fractions are admitted to a pair of separate containers 1 and 2 through supply conduits 1a, 2a whose outlets are controlled by floats 3, 4 or similar valve means. A metering or blending pump 6 is driven by an electric motor 5 and comprises two suction inlets 6a, 6b which respectively draw requisite quantities of liquid fractions from the containers 1 and 2 to blend the same and to discharge the resulting mixture through a pair of conduits 7 leading to a T 8 at the intake end of a conduit 9 leading to the inlet of a mixing vessel here shown as an upright blast-pressure tank 11. The conduit 9 contains one or more coils 10 which serve to extend the duration of flow of liquid on its way from the T 8 to the mixing tank 11. FIG. l shows three coils 10 with alternating right-hand and lefthand convolutions to further improve the blending effect. The ypump 6 is arranged to mix the two fractions at a predetermined rate, and the resulting mixture is homogenized still further while flowing through the obstruction provided by the coils 10.

The blast-pressure tank 11 constitutes one of three main component parts of theA improved impregnating apparatus. In addition, this apparatus includes a venturi nozzle 12 and a special separator or gas trap 13. The nozzle 12 is installed at the discharge end of a conduit 14 which leads from an outlet of the tank 11 toward the inlet of the separator 13. It will be noted that the intake end of the conduit 14 is connected with that outlet (for liquid) which is provided at the lower end of the tank 11. The upper part of the internal chamber of the tank 11 accommodates a supply of gas (for example, carbon dioxide gas) which is to be admixed to and partially absorbed by the liquid entering through the conduit 9. Such gas is admitted through a supply conduit 27 whose discharge end is controlled by a float 19 or a similar valve. The gas accommodating space in the upper part of the tank 11 is in communication with a conduit 15 which leads to the throat portion between the inlet and outlet of the vertical passage in the nozzle 12. A further gas conduit 16 connects the top of the separator 13 with the top portion of the tank 11 to return surplus gas which is not absorbed by the impregnated liquid in the separator.

The separator 13 is shown in section, and it will be noted that the conduit 14a leading from the outlet of the vertical passage in the nozzle 12 to the separator 13 discharges into a pot shaped riser 17 which is located in the Y center of the separator. The liquid overflowing the top of the riser 17 descends into the lower cone 13a of the separator 13 and enters a conduit 1411 leading to a pressure generating device here shown as a pump 23. Surplus gas which is released at the top surface of liquid contained in the separator 13 enters the conduit 16 and flows back to the upper part of the tank 11. The nozzle 12 is provided with an annular channel 18 which communicates with the discharge end of the conduit 15 and which also communicates with a series of radial inlets here shown as bores 18a leading to the throat portion of the passage defined by the nozzle.

The separator 13 is connected with the discharge end of a further supply conduit 20a which serves to admit g-as when the operation begins, i.e., to fill theapparatus with gas at the start of the operation. The conduit 20a contains `a reducing valve 20 Which may be manipulated by hand.

A throttle v-alve 21 is installed in the conduit 14 between the liquid outlet of the tank 11 and the inlet of the passage in the nozzle 12, and its function is to regulate (increase) the qu-antity of surplus gas which will flow with the liquid stream on its way to the nozzle. The valve 21 may but need not be of the adjustable type, and is selected in such `a way that the pressure prevailing in the tank 11 and channel 18 may exceed the pressure at the inlet of the passage in the nozzle 12.

If desired, the conduit 14a may accommodate one or more obstructions, here shown as coils 22, whichy insure that the liquid and gas remain in longer-lasting contact with each other prior to reaching the interior of the separator 13.

The pump 23 determines the pressure of carbonated liquid which leaves the apparatus on its way to a bottle filling station or to further processing. rl `he conduit 16 contains a suitable compressor 24 mounted between the ends of a bypass conduit 16a which contains a pressure relief valve, here shown as a spring-biased one-way ball valve 25. The valve 25 insures that the output of the compressor 24 is proportional with the quantity of gas which is being released in the separator 13.

The apparatus of FIG. 1 operates as follows:

The containers 1 and 2 receive water and syrup or other liquid fractions which are to form -a mixture. The fractions which are admitted through the supply conduits 1a, 2a may be degasified prior to entering the respective containers and are thereupon blended by the pump 6 and during flow through the coils 10 so as to form a mixture which is homogeneous at the time the resulting liquid stream enters the internal chamber of the tank 11. The gas (e.g., carbon dioxide gas) entering the tank 11 through the conduits 16 land 27 is partially absorbed by the liquid and the liquid absorbs additional quantities of gas While flowing through the throat of the passage in the nozzle 12 on its way to the separator 13.V

The liquid entering the riser 17 in the interior of the separator 13 contains a large quantity of finely dispersed gas bubbles. Such dispersal is enhanced by the coils 22 which lengthen the-period of contact between liquid and gas. Surplus gas which is not absorbed by the liquid is separated on the surface of the liquid body overflowing the riser 17 and is returned to the tank 11 through the conduit 16.

It is to be mentioned here that the coils 22 may be replaced by other types of obstructions, for example, by tanks, stirrers or the like, as long as such devices constitute an obstruction to the flow of liquid and gas into the riser 17. The coils 22 shown in FIG. 2 may be provided with internal fins, ribs or threads to further improve the mixing effect and to thereby increase the quantity of gases which are absorbed by the liquid stream.

The bores 18a of the nozzle 12 may be disposed in a common plane or, alternatively, they may be staggered axially with reference to each other. As a rule, the bores 18a will discharge jets of carbon dioxide gas into the narrowest zone of the passage in the nozzle 12. The gas admitted through the conduit 27 insures that the liquid level in the tank 11 is substantially constant.

The purpose of the compressor 24 is to increase the pressure of gases which are separated from the liquid in the separator 13 so that the pressure of gases at the higher-pressure side of the compressor 24 equals the pressure of gases in the upper part of the tank 11. The pressure relief valve 25 is preferably of the adjustable type so that it may regulate the output of the compressor 24 whereby the output of this compressor is always pro- 4 portional to the quantity of gases entering the separator 13.

The tank 11 insures that the liquid and gas entering the nozzle 12 are kept at a constant pressure. In addition to the aforementioned throttle valve 21, the conduitry connecting the tank 11 with the separator 13 may accommodate one or more additional throttle valves one of which is shown at 21a in the conduit 14a. This valve 21a may but need not be of the adjustable type, and its function is to insure that the major part ofthe irnpregnating operation takes place in the zone or zones upstream of the separator 13 (i.e., in the nozzle 12 and in that portion of the conduit 14a which is located upstream of the valve 21a), and that suchV operation takes place at pressures which exceed the pressures prevailing in the separator. The effect of the valve 21a may be selected in such a way that the liquid flowing through the nozzle 12 absorbs all of the gases which are admitted throughl the bores 18a.

FIG. 2 illustrates a slightly modified apparatus wherein the pump 23 of FIG. 1 is replaced by a pressure generating pump 26 which is mounted in the conduit 14a, i.e., upstream of the separator 13. Owing to such mounting of the pump 26, the compressor 24, the pressure relief valve 25 and the supply conduit 27 with the valve 19 may be dispensed with. The pump 26 insures that the pressure of surplus gas contained in the conduit 14a exceeds the pressure of gas in the tank 11. Consequently, the gas released by the liquidl entering the separator 13 Will return through the conduit 16 at a rate controlled by -a float 19 or similar valve means. The conduit 20a, containing the valve 20, serves to admit to the apparatus all of the gas which is necessary for absorption by and admixture to the liquid. The valve 20 will be adjusted in such a way that the gas enters the upper cone 13b of the separator 13 at a predetermined pressure. The cones 13a, 13b of the separator 13 have their bases arranged end-to-end and tips located respectively at the bottom and top of the separator. The riser 17 is located centrally of the cones and is led through the lower cone 13a.

The assembly which admits a mixture of two liquid fractions into the tank 11 is the s-ame as described in connection with FIG. 1.

Without further analysis, the Vforegoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and spevciiic aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and areV intended to be comprehended Within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for impregnating a liquid with a gas, comprising a vessel arranged to receive a stream of liquid and a stream of compressed gas so that the liquid mixes with some of the gas, said vessel having a first outlet for liquid and a second outlet for gas; a nozzle defining a passage for the liquid having an inlet and an outlet, said nozzle further having additional inlet means communicating with said passage; conduit means connecting the first outlet of said vessel with the inlet of said passage so that the liquid flows from said vessel to and through said nozzle; conduit means connecting the second outlet of said vessel with said additional inlet means so that the gas flows into said passage and is intimately mixed with the liquid whereby the liquid is impregnated by absorbing some of the gas and the surplus of such gas forms bubbles which are dispersed in the impregnated liquid; a separad tor for removing surplus gas from the thus impregnated liquid; conduit means connecting the outlet of said passage with said separator; and return conduit means for conveying surplus gas from said separator to vsaid vessel.

2. An apparatus for impregnating a liquid with a gas, comprising a vessel arranged to receive a stream of liquid and a stream of compressed gas so that the liquid mixes with some of the gas, said vessel having a first outlet for liquid and a second outlet for gas; a nozzle defining an axial passage for the liquid having an inlet and an outlet, said nozzle further having additional inlet means including a plurality of substantially -radially extending bores communicating with said passage; conduit means connecting the first outlet of said vessel with the inlet of said passage so that the liquid flows from said vessel to and through said nozzle; conduit means connecting the second outlet of said vessel with said additional inlet means so that the gas ows into said passage and is intimately mixed with the liquid whereby the liquid is impregnated by absorbing some of the gas and the surplus of such gas forms bubbles which are dispersed in the impregnated liquid; a separator for removing surplus gas from the thus impregnated liquid; conduit means connecting the outlet of said passage with said separator; and return conduit means for conveying surplus gas from said separator to said vessel.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein at least some of said radial bores are staggered axially With reference to the remaining bores.

4. An apparatus for impregnating a liquid with gas, comprising a vessel arranged to receive a stream of liquid and a stream of compressed gas so that the liquid mixes with some of the gas, said vessel having a first outlet for liquid and a second outlet for gas; a venturi nozzle defining a passage for the liquid having a throat portion, an inlet and an outlet, said nozzle further having additional inlet means communicating with the throat portion of said passage; conduit means connecting the first outlet of said vessel with the inlet of said passage so that the liquid oWs from said vessel to and through said nozzle; conduit means connecting the second outlet of said vessel with said additional inlet means so that the gas flows into said passage and is intimately mixed with the liquid whereby the liquid is impregnated by absorbing some of the gas and the surplus of such gas forms bubbles which are dispersed in the impregnated liquid; a separator for removing surplus gas from the thus impregnated liquid; conduit means connecting the outlet of said passage with said separator; and return conduit means for conveying surplus gas from said separator to said vessel.

5. An apparatus for impregnating a liquid with a gas, comprising a vessel arranged to receive a stream of liquid and a stream of compressed gas so that the liquid mixes with some of the gas, said vessel having a first outlet for liquid and a second outlet for gas; a nozzle defining a passage for the liquid having an inlet and an outlet, said nozzle further having additional inlet means communicating with said passage; conduit means connecting the first outlet of said vessel with the inlet of said passage so that the liquid flows from said vessel to and through said nozzle; conduit means connecting the second outlet of said vessel with said additional inlet means so that the gas flows into said passage and is intimately mixed with the liquid whereby the liquid is impregnated by absorbing some of the gas and the surplus of such gas forms bubbles which are dispersed in the impregnated liquid; a separator for removing surplus gas from the thus impregnated liquid; additional conduit means connecting the outlet of said passage with said separator; pressure generating pump means provided in said additional conduit means for maintaining the interior of said separator at a pressure exceeding the pressure in said vessel; and return conduit means for conveying surplus gas from said separator to said vessel.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5, further comJ prising valve means including a fioat provided in said vessel for regulating return flow of surplus gas from said separator to said vessel.

7. An apparatus for impregnating a liquid with a gas, comprising a Vessel arranged to receive a stream of liquid and a stream of compressed gas so that the liquid mixes with some of the gas, said vessel having a first outlet for liquid and a second outlet for gas, a nozzle defining a passage for the liquid having an inlet and an outlet, said nozzle further having additional inlet means communicating with said passage; conduit means connecting the first outlet of said vessel with the inlet of said passage so that the liquid flows from said vessel to and through said nozzle; conduit means connecting the second outlet of said Vessel with said additional inlet means so that the gas flows into said passage and is intimately mixed with the liquid whereby the liquid is impregnated by absorbing some of the gas and the surplus of such gas forms bubbles which are dispersed in the impregnated liquid; a separator for removing surplus gas from the thus impregnated liquid; conduit means connecting the outlet of said passage with said separator; return conduit means for conveying surplus gas from said separator to said vessel; and compressor means in said return conduit means.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, further comprising bypass conduit means having ends connected with said return conduit means upstream and downstream of said compressor means; and pressure relief valve means in said bypass conduit means to permit return fiow of compressed gas to the lower-pressure side of said compressor means.

9. An apparatus for impregnating a liquid with a gas, comprising a vessel arranged to receive a stream of liquid and a stream of compressed gas so that the liquid mixes with some of the gas, said vessel having a first outlet for liquid and a second outlet for gas; a nozzle defining a passage for the liquid having an inlet and an outlet, said nozzle further having additional inlet means communicating with said passage; yconduit means connecting the first outlet of said vessel with the inlet of said passage so that the liquid flows from said vessel to and through said nozzle; conduit means `connecting the second outlet of said vessel with said additional inlet means so that the gas flows into said passage and is intimately mixed with the liquid whereby the liquid is impregnated by absorbing some of the gas and the surplus of such gas forms bubbles which are dispersed in the impregnated liquid; a separator for removing surplus gas from the thus impregnated liquid; said separator comprising two hollow conical portions with their bases arranged 4end-to-end and having tips disposed respectively at the top and bottom of the separator, and a riser extending coaxially into said conical portions; conduit means connecting the outlet of said passage with said riser so that the liquid overflows into the interior of said conical portions; and return conduit means connected with the top of said separator for conveying surplus gas from the interior of said conical portions to said vessel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 970,654 9/1910 Sepulchre 55-89 2,020,850 11/1935 Myhren et al. 261-21 2,127,571 8/1938 Pardee 55--94 2,212,598 8/ 1940 Hagist. 2,685.941 10/1954 Kassel 55-48 REUBEN FRIEDMAN, Primary Examiner.

C. N. HART, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR IMPREGNATING A LIQUID WITH A GAS, COMPRISING A VESSEL ARRANGED TO RECEIVE A STREAM OF LIQUID AND A STREAM OF COMPRESSEDGAS SO THAT THE LIQUID MIXES WITH SOME OF THE GAS, SAID VESSEL HVING A FIRST OUTLET FOR LIQUID AND A SECOND OUTLET FOR GAS; A NOZZLE DEFINING A PASSAGE FOR THE LIQUID HAVING AN INLET AND AN OUTLET, SAID NOZZLE FURTHER HAVING ADDITIONAL INLET MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID PASSAGE; CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTING THE FIRST OUTLET OF SAID VESSEL WITH THE INLET OF SAID PASSAGE SO THAT THE LIQUID FLOWS FROM SAID VESSEL TO AND THROUGH SAID NOZZLE; CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTING THE SECOND OUTLET OF SAID VESSEL WITH SAID ADDITIONAL INLET MEANS SO THAT THE GAS FLOWS INTO SAID PASSAGE AND IS INTIMATELY MIXED WITH THE LIQUID WHEREBY THE LIQUID IS IMPREGNATED BY ABSORBING SOME OF THE GAS AND THE SURPLUS OF SUCH GAS FORMS BUBBLES WHICH ARE DISPERSED IN THE IMPREGNATED LIQUID; A SEPARATOR FOR REMOVING SURPLUS GAS FROM THE THUS IMPREGNATED LIQUID; CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTING THE OUTLET OF SAID PASSAGE WITH SAID SEPARATOR; AND RETURNCONDUIT MEANS FOR CONVEYING SURPLUS GAS FROM SAID SEPARATOR TO SAID VESSEL. 